Pump actuating mechanism



` Jan. 1, 1935.

E. W. PATTERSON Fild Feb. 20, 1933 -hz j l/f' 6( '2/ fsf; f7 5 va /3\@wf o o f s? a O O o O O 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 1, 1935. E. w. PATTERSON1,985,012

PUMP ACTUATING MECHANISM Filed Feb. 20, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 PatentedJan. 1, 11935 "UNITED STATES 1,986,013 PUMP Ac'rUA'rrNG MEcnAmsM EdgarW. Patterson, Long Beach, Calif., assignor, by direct and mesneassignments, oi' one-hal! to Charles M. OLeary, Jr., and one-half to C,M. OLeary, both ot Los Angeles, Calif.

Application February 20, 1933, Serial No. 657,530

11 Claims.

This invention relates to a pump actuating mechanism, and relates moreparticularly to a mechanism f oractuating a well pump. It is a generalobject of the invention to provide a practical and effective well pumpactuating mechanism that is of simplified and improved construction.

Another object of the invention is to provide a well pump actuatingmechanism that may be embodied in' a walking beam unit .suitable for usein various situations, 6T that may be readily applied to an alreadyinstalled walkingbeam unit.

A Another object of the invention is to provide a mechanism of the'character mentioned for actuating the reciprocating type of Well pump inwhich all of the parts are directly connected or associated with thewalking beam and its Samson post or supporting member.

It is another object of the invention to provide a pump actuatingmechanism of the character mentioned in which the heaviest or one of theheaviest units or parts of the mechanism is car- Y character mentionedin which the power unit is carried by the Samson post in a simple andpractical manner.

Another object of the invention is to provide a pump actuating mechanismof the character mentioned, including a novel and effective brake meansoperable to stop the walking beam in any position.v

A further object of the invention is to provide a pump actuatingmechanism that is efficient in mvention, the Samson post 10 may beconoperation and particularly simple and inexpensive of manufacture.

The various objects and features of the inven'l tionwill be better andfully understood from the following detailed description of a typicalform and application of the invention throughout which descriptionreference is had to the accom-L panying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the mechanism provided by the invention.Fig. 2 is an enlarged arc on the forward end of the walking beam, be.

ing a view taken as indicated by line 3-3 on 1. Fig. 4 is an enlargedfragmentary side elevation taken substantially 'as indicated by line 4-4on Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is an enlarged side elevation of a portion 'of thedevice. Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary, detailed sectional view takenas indicated by line 6-6 on Fig. 4. Fig. 7 is a fragmentary endelevation taken as indicated by line 7-'7 onFig. 5. Fig. 8 is anenlarged fragmentary sectional view taken as indicated by line'8-8onFig. l, and Fig. 9 is a vertical sectional view taken as indicated byline 9-9 on 8.

The pump jack or pump actuating mechanism provided by the presentinvention may be varied considerably to adapt it for use in varioussituations, or for use `in connection with different .classes ofequipment. .'I'he invention contemplates the provision of acomplete'pump actuating unit including a walking beam'for reciprocatingthe pumpirod and the Samson post supporting the walking beam, andcontemplates the application of various parts ofthe mechanism to apreviously constructed or installed walking beam unit. Throughout thefollowing detailed disclosure, I will describe a typical form of theinvention in which the walking beam unit may be considered as an elementor part of the mechanism as initially constructed. It is to beunderstood that the invention'is not to be taken |as limited orrestricted to the specific form or details about to be described, but isto be taken as includingany features or modifications that may fallwithin the scope of the claims.

The form of the invention illustrated in the drawings, includes,generally, the Samson" post 10, a` walking beam 11 pivotally mounted onthe upper end of the post 10, a vpower means 12 adjustably mounted onthe Samson post 10, and an operating drive or connection 13 between thepower means 12 and the walking beam 11.

In accordance with the broader aspects of the structed and mounted asdesired or found practical. In the embodiment of the inventionillustrated in the drawings, the unit includes a frame or base 14carrying the Samson post 10. The base 14 may include spaced beams 15adapted to be arranged on a floor'gF or other suitablev support. TheSamson post may be in the form of a length of steel I beam asillustrated4 in the drawings. The lower end\ of the Sanison" post 10 isattached to the beams 15 of the base, andprojects vertically upwardfrom-'the base. Braces 16 may extend upwardly from the opposite ends ofthe base 14 to the upper end portion of the "Samson post 10 to brace andlend rigidity to the structure.

The walking beam 11 is mounted on the upper end of the Samson post 10 topivot or oscillate about a horizontal axis. The walking beam 11 isprovided to reciprocate the pump rod R in a manner to be subsequentlydescribed. The walking beam 11 may be formed of a length of steel I beamarranged to have its end flanges 17 form the upper and lower sides ofthe walking beam. The pump actuating unit or mechanism is positioned atthe well so that the walking beam 11 has its inner arm 18 projectingover the head or upper end of the well as clearly illustrated in Fig. 1of the drawings. The outer arm 19 of the walking beam may be somewhatlonger than the inner arm 18; Suitable means is provided for pivotallyattaching the lower flange 17 of the walking beam to the upper end ofthe Samson post "10 so that the walking beam may oscillate aboutahorizontal axis. The pivotal mounting illustrated in the drawingsincludes a bearing member 20A on the upper end of the Samson" post 10and a saddle 21 on the lower flange 17 of the walking beam. The bearingmember 20 has a block or tongue 22 projecting downwardly between thespaced side flanges 23 of the Samson post 10 and attached to the saidflanges by bolts 24. spaced upwardly projecting side parts 25. The

. saddle 21 is suitably attached to the lower flange 17 of the walkingbeam and has a block or tongue 26 projecting downwardly between the sideparts 25 of the bearing member 20. A shaft or pin 27 extends throughaligned horizontal openings in the side parts 25 and the tongue 26 topivotally connect the walking ,beam 11 to the Samson post 10. The pvotpin 27 is tubular, having a longitudinal opening 28 extending through itfrom one end to the other.

The connection between the walking beam 11 and the string of pump rods Rincludes a head or arc member 30 on the outer end of the inner arm 18 ofthe walking beam. The arc member 30 has a convex outer face curved aboutthe pivotal axis of the walking beam 11. A cable 32 or other flexiblemember extends through a flanged projection 33 at the upper end of thecurved face 3l and has two spaced parts extending downwardly from theprojection. 'Ihe cable 32 engages the curved outer face 31 of the armmember and its lower ends are connected to the upper end of the.

pump rod R by a suitable clamp or connecting device 34. Spaced parallelribs or flanges 35 project from the curved fame 31 of the arc member toform channels for guiding the cable 32. The flexible cable 32 operatingon the curved face 31 provides for the vertical reciprocation of the rodR without bending or flexing its upper portion.

It is a feature of the invention that the arc member 30 is attached tothe walking beam so that it may be easily and quickly swung out oflvertical alignment with the upper end of the well to allow tools, etc.,to be freely passed into and out of the well'. A central vertical web 81is provided on the rear side of the arc member 30 and has a recess ornotch 82 receiving the end portion of the walking beam arm 18. Flanges83 are provided along the upper and lower edges of the notch 82 tocooperate with the flanges 17 of the walking beam. Two sets or pairs 84and 85 of bolts extend through openings in the flanges 17 and 82 toremovably attach the arc member 30 to the walking beam 11. The bolts 84and 85 are The bearing member 20 is yoked, having disposed at oppositesides of the web 81. When it is desired to swing the arc member 30 outof vertical alignment with the upper end ofthe well, the two outer bolts84 and one of the inner bolts are removed, leaving a single inner bolt85. The arc member 30 is then free to pivot or hinge on the remainingbolt 85 and may be easily swung to a position at to the longitudinalaxis of the walking beam 11. When' attached to the arm 18 of the walkingbeam by the single bolt 85, the arc member 30 is substantiallystatically balanced so that it may be very easily swung to any desiredposition. It willwbe apparent vhow the arc member 30 may be easily andquickly swung from its normal operative position to a position out ofvertical alignment with the upper end of the well so that rods, tools,etc., may be freely `passed into vandout of the well.

The power means 12 is provided to operate or oscillate the walking beam11 through the transmission or operatingl drive 13. In accordance withthe invention, the power means 12 is carried by the Samson post l0. Thepower means 12 includes a suitable electric motor 36. Spaced beams orcarriers 37 are attached to the vertical side flanges 23 of the Samsonpost 10 for Vertical adjustment thereon, and project horizontally fromthe post to form a shelf or mounting is preferably horizontal and in thesame vertical plane as the pivot pin 27. A suitable brace or braces 39may be attached to the under side of the beams 37 and may have its lowerend attached to the Samson post l0.

The invention may include a stop means or brake means in connection withthe power means 12 that is operable to stop and hold the walking beam 11at any -desired position. The brake means include blocks or shoes 40 forengaging or braking with a combination fly-wheel and drum 41 on themotor shaft 38. The brake shoes 40 are carried by lever members 42pivoted adjacent their lower ends as at 43. An operating handle or lever44 engages the outer side of one member 42 and is connected with theother member 42 by a rod 45. A spring 46 surr'ounds the rod 45 and isarranged under compression between-the two members 42 to normallyyieldingly hold the brake shoes 40 out'of engagefor the motor 36. Theshaft 38 of the motor 36 It Will bev Cil the walking beam 11 in anydesired position v 'immediately afterthe motor 36 has been stopped or tostop the Walking beam in an emergency before stopping the motor. A Thedrive or operative connection 13 between the power means l2 and thewalking beam 11 ,operatively connects the walking beam 11 with the motor36 so that the motor 36 oscillates the walking beam 11 and thusreciprocates the pump rod R. The means 13 includes a pinion 50 on theinner end of the' motor shaft 38; A shaft 51 is rotatable in the opening28 of the pin 27- and projects from the opposite ends of the pin.- Acomparatively large gear 52 is prov ide'd on a projecting end of theshaft 51'and lfor receiving a pin 68.

meshes with'the pinion 50 on the motor shaft.

In accordance with .the invention,` oneor more 'the drawings, there aretwo sprockets 53, one

at each side of the walking beam 11. Atransverse shaft 54'supported bysuitable bearings 55 carries the two sprockets 53. In the preferredconstruction, the sprockets 53 are provided on the outer arm 19 of thewalking beam at a lpoint spaced a substantial distance from the pivotalaxis of the beam. Comparatively smallsprockets 56 are provided on theend portions of the shaft 51, and chains 57 pass over each pair ofsprockets 53 and 56.' The pinion 50 and -gear 52 and the sprockets 56and 53 are related to provide for a considerable reduction in speedbetween' the motor. shaft 38 and the large sprockets 53.

The invention includes means whereby rotation of the sprockets 53 causesoscillation or operation-of the walking beam 11.v

Crank links or connecting rods 60 are pivotally connected to thesprockets 53 and a suitable relativelyA fixed object. The rods 60 areconnected-to the sprockets 53 at points offset from the axes of thesprockets. In the embodiment of the invention illustratedin thedrawings, the lower ends of the rods 60 are pivotally connected to thebase 14. L heads 61 are provided on the lower end portions of the rods60 and are adapted' to pivot on a pin 62 carried in a'bearing 63 on thebase beam 15. In the preferred construction, pivotal connections areprovided between the rods 60 Aand the L heads 61. The lower ends of therod's 60 are `yoked as illustrated in Fig. -9. andpivot pins 90 passthrough 4openings in the upper arms of the L heads 61 and' the yoked`ends of the rods 60 to pivotally connect the rods and heads.` Yokedheads 64 are provided on the vupper ends of the rods 60 to receive thetongues 65 of connecting members or hub members 66.v Pivot pins 67extend through openings in the yokedA heads 64 and tongues v65 topivotally connect the rod with the members 66. Themembers 66 carry pins68 adapted to extend through openingsV 69 in the sprockets 53.

In accordance with the invention, there is a plurality of openings 69provided in each sprocket 'I'he several openings 69 in each sprocket 53are spaced different distances from the axis of rotation of thesprocket.-

By' arranging the pins 68 in the different openings 69, the walking beam1l maybe given strokes of different lengths. l Itwill'be apparent. howthe pivoted rods 60 in 4connecting the rotating sprockets 53 with thestationary base 14, causes oscillation of the walking beam'll during therotation `of the sprockets 53. The-pivotal connections on the oppositeendsof-the rods 60 are such that the rods will not bind or interferewith the free operation of the mechanism inthe event that the walkingbeam 11 and/or sprockets 53 carried bythe beam are slightly I out ofalignment with the base 14.

The sprockets 53 on the outer arm 19 of the walking beam 11 operate tocounter-balance the weight of the string of pump rods R and the operatedparts of the well pump. The invention includes a counter balancing meansin addition" to the sprockets 53; A pluralityj of removable weights 70is provided-on the outer end portion of the arm. 19 of the walking beam11. The

weights70' are separately or individually removcluding, 'a pivotallymounted walking beam,. a,

able from the walking.` beam 11 so that the string of pump rods R may beproperly or accurately counter-balanced. In the preferred form of theinvention, the counter-balancing weights 70 vare sectional, each beingformed of two parts or sections connected by flange and bolt connections71. The several weights 70 are arranged in a group on the-walking beamarm 19 at a point outward of the pair of sprockets 53. Outwardly facingabutments or stops 72 are"provided on the walking beam arm 19. to limitthe inward' movement of the weights 70. The counter balancing weights 79are maintained in position by nuts 73y threaded on stems 74 and actingthrough secondary or fractional close balancing plates 75 to clamp thegroup of weights 70 together against the stops 72. A I

It is believed that the operation of the pump jack or pump actuatingunit provided by the invention will -be readily apparent from the.foregoing detailed description.` 'I'he motor 36 normally operatescontinuously to rotate the sprockets 53' through the gear and chaindrive "described above. 'I'he drive is such that there is a substantialreduction in speed between the motorv shaft 38 and the sprockets 53. Therods 60 connecting the rotating sprockets 53 with the stationary base 14provides for the oscillation of the l walking beam 11 during rotation ofthe sprockets. The provision of the plurality of openings 69 in eachsprocket 53 'for receiving the pins 68 allows for the changing in thelength of the stroke The openings 69. are

ofthe walking beam 11. spaced different distances from the axis ofrota,- tion of the sprockets 53 andthe arrangement of. the pins 68 inthe different openings 69 changes the stroke of the walking beam 11. Theunit is particularly simple and compact in construction asall of itsparts are directly lassociated with the .S(amson.post and walking beam.'I'he power means.l2 is adjustably supported on the Samson post 10 lin asimpley effective manner, whilev the drive 13 for operating the walkingbeam 11 is associated with the pivotal mounting of the beam and with theouter arm 19 of the beam'.

The sprockets 53, in being carried on the outer arm 19 of the walking.beam operate toaid in counter-balancing the string of pump rods R. Inpractice, the sprockets 53 may be comparatively heavy and thus reducethe number of counter balancing'weights necessary on the outer arm ofthe walking beam.. 'I'he pump actuating mechanism may be readilyinstalled ,as a unit and occupies a. minimum amount of 4space at thewell.

The mechanism is eiicient and inexpensive of operatiomand operatessmoothly and effectively.

Having described only a typical preferred form and application of myinvention, I do not Wish to restrict myself to the specic form. andapplication set forth, but wish to reserve to myself any chang-es orvariations that may appearV to those skilled in the art or fallwithinthe scope of the following claims.. A

Having described. my invention, I claim: i

1. A pump actuating mechanism including, a

Vwalking beam, a post supporting the walking beam, power means on thepost, and an operating beam, the said drive including a sprocket carriedby thexwalking beam at a point spaced from the pivotal axis of thewalking beam, and anbpera'- tive connection between the power means andsprocket.

2. Al mechanism of the character described in- Vdrive between the powermeans and the walking v` power means, and a' drive between the powermeans and the walking beam including, a sprocket carried by the beam ata point spaced from its pivotal axis,4 and a driving connection betweenthe power-means and sprocket.

3. A mechanism of the character described including, a pivotally mountedwalking beam, a power means, and a drive between, the power means andthe walking beam including, a r0- tatable member'on the walking beam ata point spacedfrom its pivotal axis, and a rod pivotally connected to 'arelatively fixed object and pivotally connected to the member at a pointspaced from its axis of rotation.

4. A mechanism of the character describedincluding, a pivotally mountedwalking beam, aA

^ walking beam, means pivotally supporting the walking b eam, and meansfor operating the walking beam, the last mentioned means including astationarily mounted motor, and a rotating sprocket on the walking beamdriven by the motor.

6. A pump actuating mechanism including, a post, a walking beam, meanspivotally mounting the walking beam on the post, a motor on the post,and a drive between vthe motor and the walking beam including a shaftassociated-with the said means and rotated by the motor, a sprocket onthe shaft, a larger sprocket mounted on the walking beam a substantialdistance from said means, an element operatively connecting the twosprockets, anda rod pivotally connected to a relatively fixed object andpivotally connected to the said larger lsprocket at a point offset fromits axis of rotation.

'7. A pump actuating mechanism including,v a post, a walking beam, meanspivotally mounting the walking beam on the post, a motor on the post,andfa drive between the' motor and the walking beam including a shaftassociated with the saidmeans, a speed reducing drive between the motorand the shaft, a rotatable member on the walking beam at a point removedfrom said means, a rod pivotally connected to a relatively fixedobjectand pivotally connected to the member at a point spaced from itsaxis of rotation, and a drive between the shaft and member.

8. A pump actuating mechanism including, a post, a walking beam, meanspivotally mounting the walking beam on the post, a motor on the post,and a drive between the motor and the Walking beam including a shaftassociated with the said means, av speed reducing drive between themotor and the shaft, a rotatable member on the walking beam at-a pointremoved from said means, a rod pivotally connected to a relatively fixedobject and pivotally connectedto the member at a point spaced from itsaxis of rotation, and a speed reducing drive between the shaft andmember.

9. In a pump actuating mechanism of the character described, a walkingbeam, an arc member for carrying a flexible element to be connected tothe part to be actuated, andmeans for removably attaching the arc memberto the walking beam in a manner so that it may be swung out of alignmentwith the said part to be actuated, said means including spaced removablebolts passing through openings in the member and beam transverse of thelongitudinal axis of the beam, one of the bolts being located adjacentthe center of gravity of the arc member so that the arc member issubstantialy statically balanced when pivoted on said bolt.

v 10. A mechanism of the character described including, a pivotablymounted walking beam, a power means, and a drive between the powermeansv and the beam including a rotatable member on the beam at a pointspaced from the pivotal .axis of the beam, a drive between the powermeans and the member, and a rod pivotally connected to a relativelyfixed object and pivotally connected to the member at a point spacedfrom its axis of rotation.

11. A rmechanism of the character described including, a pivotablymounted walking beam, one arm of the beam being adapted to operate apump part, a power means, and a drive between the power means and thebeam including a rotatable member on the other arm of the beam at apoint spaced from the pivotal axis of the beam, the member being ofsubstantial weight to form avcounter balance for the pump part, and arod pivotally connected to a relatively fixed object and pivotallyconnected to the member at a point spaced from its axis of rotation.

EDGAR W. PATTERSON.

